💰 Budget holiday in the Maldives: a guide to an affordable paradise
The Maldives is an island nation in the equatorial waters of the Indian Ocean, which includes about 1,200 islands. The Maldives is famous for its crystal clear beaches, unique flora and fauna, as well as… very high prices for holidays.
Yes, most people associate the Maldives with something very expensive and unattainable. And this is not surprising: accommodation in some hotels can reach up to $1000 per night, which, naturally, not everyone can afford. But can a person with the same $1000 in his pocket afford a vacation at this resort? Let's try to figure this out.
Prepare your sleigh in the summer, and prepare your trip months in advance!
The meaning of the famous proverb is simple – you should prepare for everything in advance, and even more so for vacation. As in many destinations, the price of a trip to the Maldives will directly depend on seasonality. Therefore, we choose months with low tourist activity. For the Maldives this is the period from April to November. We will divide the preparation for the trip itself into stages.
The very first stage is purchasing air tickets. We will land in Male, the capital of the Maldives, so we are planning the route there.
European visa holders can try to fly from Vilnius, Lithuania, to Abu Dhabi, UAE, and from there to Male. In this case, a one-way ticket will cost approximately 750 rubles ($267). However, it is better to fly from Moscow on a direct flight. If you wish, you can find tickets from 700 to 800 rubles ($250-285). Try to think about your flight in advance, then you can run into huge discounts or simply cheaper tickets.
By the way, Friday is a day off in the Maldives and ferries do not operate. This should be taken into account when booking air tickets, so as not to spend money on renting a room per day in an expensive metropolitan hotel.
The second stage is the choice of the island on which we will settle. It’s sad, but most of the islands can only be reached by plane. The flight is not cheap – about $200. Therefore, it is worth choosing an island that is located in close proximity to Male airport and where ferries go. Believe me, the color of the ocean around these islands is no different from the $1000 resorts, but a ferry ticket will cost only $1 to $10 depending on the distance of the island.
For a long stay, a good option would be the chain of islands of Himmafushi, Huraa and Thulusdhoo. In these locations you can find hotel rooms from 100 to 150 rubles per night ($35-55). There are excellent mini- hotels on the islands, called guesthouses.
There are also bikini beaches – these are beach areas where you don’t have to swim in a dress. Do not forget that the Maldives is a Muslim country, and here you cannot sunbathe or swim in the usual bikini wherever you want. However, due to the popularity of these islands among budget tourists, local beaches are sometimes unable to accommodate the entire influx of guests.
The best choice is Thoddoo Island. It houses a large number of guest houses at reasonable prices. Also here you can find an excellent landscaped beach with white sand and a lot of underwater life: turtles, manta rays, tropical fish. Here you can meet your compatriots and make new acquaintances.
If you want to get away from other tourists, you can settle on one of the uninhabited islands with your own tent and hammock. Local fishermen will be able to take you there and pick you up. However, it is not a fact that such a vacation will cost you less. You should acquire supplies of food and water, which are not the cheapest in the Maldives. Well, comfort will only be a dream.
Walking around the capital: what to do?
After landing at Male airport, do not rush to catch the ferry. Despite its modest size, only 6.8 km2, there is a lot to see in the capital. You don’t even need a separate excursion for this – all the sights can be explored on foot in just a couple of hours.
The main street of Male, Boduthakurufaanu Magu, is located in the northern part of the island – it is more of an administrative center. It houses office and government buildings , banks and a post office. If you move along this street, you will come to Republic Square, where the national flag is installed.
All the main attractions of the capital are located in this part of the island. These are the National Museum, the shady Jumuri Maidan Park, the Muliage Presidential Palace, the Singapore Bazaar, and many mosques, among which the largest is the Good Friday Mosque.
Almost all of this can be viewed for free, but a ticket to the museum for an adult will cost 9 rubles ($3.25). If you are not an ardent fan of history, it is better not to spend money on this – the level of the museum is average. But be sure to remember to just stroll along the regular streets and watch the locals.
There are very few cars in Male. The main means of transportation are bicycles and mopeds. However, you won’t need them, since the entire island can be walked around in just a couple of hours.
Be sure to get the local currency – rufiyaa. Please note that not all islands allow you to pay with a bank card. The average rate is 15 rufiyaa to 1 dollar. However, as practice shows, it is better to take cash dollars with you and exchange them in small amounts. You can exchange at a higher rate from individuals or in stores. But it’s better not to withdraw money from ATMs – the commission is very high.
In general, in the Maldives you can pay in dollars. In this case, they will give you the change in rufiyaa, but not everywhere. For example, it is better to buy a ferry ticket for rufiyaa. Its price starts from 10 rufiyaa or $1.
And you want to eat: where to eat?
If you're hungry, it's time to visit the fish and fruit markets. They are located in the northwestern part of the island not far from each other.
The country does not have its own production and agriculture, so prices for goods are quite expensive. For example, a kilogram of cucumbers will cost $2, and a kilogram of tuna will cost $2.5. Oddly enough, fruit in the Maldives is also expensive. They are brought from neighboring Sri Lanka. Pears will cost 22 rubles per 1 kg ($8), bananas 8.4 rubles ($3), and pineapple 5.6 rubles ($2).
The fish market is not only a local attraction, but also the center of public life. Here people not only exchange news, but also simply spend time. Yes, yes, this happens too.
Fish and seafood are the basis of all local dishes. So, fresh, just caught fish can be cleaned, professionally cut and packaged there. Later, it can be prepared for you at one of the local restaurants for a fee.
Depending on your preferences, you should choose the time to visit the market. For example, in the morning you can find relatively small fish, which are sold by owners of small boats. At lunchtime, octopuses, barracudas, and snapper groupers appear on the shelves. Towards evening, large vessels return with the tuna they have caught.
In addition to the fish market in Male, you can find many restaurants serving Indian, Italian and other national cuisine, as well as small cafes. An inexpensive breakfast, for example, tea and an omelet, will cost you $2-3, and for a hearty lunch you will have to pay $7-10. Please note: the closer the establishment is to the ocean, the higher the food prices.
To save on food costs, choose guest houses with breakfast included during your vacation. It is also better to have a snack during the day at the hotel or in inexpensive cafes. Buying food in stores is not worth it, because high prices and a poor selection await you.
The basis of all Maldivian cuisine is fish in its various variations. The main side dish is rice. For example, local chefs manage to prepare curry, pasta, soups and even cakes from tuna. In meat dishes you can find chicken and beef, but this will cost you many times more.
The Maldives is a Muslim country, so alcohol is prohibited. This rule does not apply in hotel areas, where it can be found in the bar, but it is very expensive. It is prohibited to bring your own alcoholic beverages into the country.
What kind of entertainment is there?
Expensive excursions are not our option. On a budget vacation, you should immediately abandon them. If you want to see different islands, you can move between them by speedboat, but you will also have to pay for such a trip.
The ideal solution is to negotiate with local fishermen, who will be able to transport it 3-4 times cheaper. And if you are a master negotiator and can make friends with the locals, they can even take you fishing or treat you to their catch.
The main types of entertainment in the Maldives are diving, wind surfing (boarding with a sail), fishing, water skiing and scootering. Each of them will cost you from $50 to $100, but with skillful bargaining you can always reduce the price. You can also rent a canoe for $15 per hour.
However, if you have fins, a mask and a snorkel at home, it is better to take them with you and go snorkeling on your own. This is a type of diving in which a person observes the underwater world without diving deep, but while being at the surface of the water. Some guest houses provide free equipment for this, but it is not guaranteed that you will find your size.
The Maldives are, first of all, beaches with white sand that does not heat up, azure water, unique flora and fauna that you can admire for hours. Believe me, great walks and photo sessions are guaranteed on any of the islands.
But don’t forget, holidays in the Maldives are, first of all, peace and tranquility, unity with nature and yourself. Extreme lovers are better off choosing other destinations.
What did we get?
To summarize, we can safely say that vacationing in the Maldives with $1000 in your pocket is quite possible. Yes, the bulk of the budget will be consumed by round-trip flights (about $600). Hotel accommodation will cost another $250 (7 nights), and food will cost $100-150. In order to somehow reduce your costs, do not forget to bargain. This applies not only to purchases and services, but also to rental housing. This way you can save another 20%.
Despite the lack of excursions, perhaps not the most satisfying food and a small selection of entertainment, you will definitely get an unforgettable experience from visiting this paradise of our planet.